SANAA, Jan. 15 (Saba) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called on Tokyo to recognize Moscow's sovereignty over the entire disputed Kuril archipelago in order to achieve progress.
"The sovereignty over the islands is not on the table, it is Russian territory," Lavrov told the media following talks with his Japanese counterpart.
He said Moscow was ready to work for a peace treaty "on the condition that our Japanese neighbors recognize all the consequences of the Second World War, including recognition of Russia's sovereignty over all these islands."
He explained that this basic premise is reflected in the joint declaration of the Soviet Union and Japan in 1956, which Moscow confirms its readiness to use as a starting point.
"This is our basic position and without steps in this direction it will be very difficult to expect progress on other issues," he said.
He pointed out that efforts currently being made to develop the islands jointly under the recent bilateral agreements have not been successful.
He stressed that one of Moscow's objectives in bilateral cooperation is to move between the two countries without visas, and this could begin by canceling Tokyo visa requirement for Russian citizens residing in the Kuril.
Lavrov said it was "unacceptable" that Japan was still calling on the islands to name the northern territories in its constitution.
The meeting was the first of the two ministers since Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed last year to step up efforts to sign a treaty ending World War II. Talks have been stalled for decades over Japan's demand for strategic islands controlled by the Soviet army in the final days of the war.
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Saba
"The sovereignty over the islands is not on the table, it is Russian territory," Lavrov told the media following talks with his Japanese counterpart.
He said Moscow was ready to work for a peace treaty "on the condition that our Japanese neighbors recognize all the consequences of the Second World War, including recognition of Russia's sovereignty over all these islands."
He explained that this basic premise is reflected in the joint declaration of the Soviet Union and Japan in 1956, which Moscow confirms its readiness to use as a starting point.
"This is our basic position and without steps in this direction it will be very difficult to expect progress on other issues," he said.
He pointed out that efforts currently being made to develop the islands jointly under the recent bilateral agreements have not been successful.
He stressed that one of Moscow's objectives in bilateral cooperation is to move between the two countries without visas, and this could begin by canceling Tokyo visa requirement for Russian citizens residing in the Kuril.
Lavrov said it was "unacceptable" that Japan was still calling on the islands to name the northern territories in its constitution.
The meeting was the first of the two ministers since Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed last year to step up efforts to sign a treaty ending World War II. Talks have been stalled for decades over Japan's demand for strategic islands controlled by the Soviet army in the final days of the war.
AA
Saba